Automation – Continuing to Improve Service Delivery of Coiled Tubing Operations

Abstract

Abstract Coiled tubing operations become ever more complex to meet the demands within the industry. A worldwide challenge is a smaller group of highly qualified field personnel to meet these expectations and without such can lead to a potential compromised service delivery. To alleviate this our focus is on the increased level of unit automation providing the unit operator with greater monitoring, feedback, technical advice and, if needed, intervention on the unit to prevent failures. The combined solution is derived from three main areas: automatically update the CT force limits, continuous monitoring of key parameters to provide operational advice, and if required to prevent a potential failure, automatically intervene with control of the appropriate injector functions. Core to the system has been taking a highly complex CT flow and force model and transferring it to run automatically with only minimal intervention from field operators or specialists. The paper will detail the multiple system capabilities and the associated historic service delivery issues that created the need for the automated system. For example, the injector control system utilizes five different limit measurements to auto stop the injector to prevent failure. This includes the ability to auto monitor downhole force measurements during logging operations, which liberates wireline personnel to attend to other tasks during CT deployment and recovery. System enhancements such as the ability to easily recalibrate force modeling by adjusting friction and surface loads will be detailed. The system has further enhanced the ability for field crews to track expected vs actual loads and take preventative action without the need for a field engineer to be present. The system is being utilized across the service provider's fleet of units. Statistics on reduction of incident rates will be presented. Many operating companies are fully engaged and supportive of the journey to operational automation/remote monitoring and service delivery improvements. The majority of the features covered above have never been presented in a technical paper. This paper would provide valuable industry insight into the current and future expectations of technology that will aid the operating companies’ goals.